This Wednesday, Feb. 25, all families are welcome to stop by for 20 minutes (or more!) anytime between 6-7:30p at the University Avenue Campus to explore math with their students.

Early Childhood and Kindergarten families will be welcome in Sweet Briar, 1st graders in Laurel, 2nd graders in Blackberry, 3rd graders in Temescal, 4th graders in Strawberry, 5th graders in Cerrito, and 6th graders in Wildcat for Math Night. In 7th and 8th grade, students will have a combination Math and Science Night in the Middle School.

I attended my first Math Night at our school in 2001, as a parent, and I haven’t missed one since–it is one of my absolutely favorite days of the year!

What makes it so special?

Our goal for Math Night is for students to share their understanding of math with their families. One of our core values is that students’ own their learning, actively rather than passively, and there are lots of opportunities to see that on Math Night. It may be tempting as a parenting adult to teach your students that evening, but just as the teachers will step back to allow students to be the guides, we encourage you to follow your students’ lead as they show you activities and explain their thinking.

Research in how children learn and how we build proficient math thinkers has resulted in major changes in math education in the past two decades. We want students to be flexible thinkers who are fluent with math–but fluency isn’t simply memorization of math facts. For example, if the number of the day were 48, what are all the ways you might express that? 50-2, 40+8, 6×8, 1443… we want children to understand all the different paths to 48, and the relationships between them.

Games students play in math class provide fun ways for students to practice pulling numbers or shapes apart and putting them back together again, or identify patterns or strategies. Teachers use problems that connect their students’ math thinking to real-life situations, and lead discussions to build their reasoning skills and practice supporting their ideas with evidence. There is less emphasis on the right answer, and more emphasis on how to get there, so that when they encounter really difficult problems, they have strategies and the confidence to solve them. Be on the lookout for evidence of this on Math Night.

Sharing enjoyment of math with your child is so important to support their learning. If math hasn’t been your strong suit, consider shifting your narrative, as young people are quick to absorb the negative attitudes of adults around them. At TBS we emphasize a growth mindset, that everyone can learn math, and that the more we practice, the better we become. Hands-on learning at home in the kitchen, shopping at the store, or measuring for a DIY project are all opportunities for you to help your children see how you use math every day, to share how you think about numbers and shapes, and to appreciate patterns and puzzles. In our increasingly complex world, math facility is a key factor for success in a multitude of careers and decisions your students will encounter. We welcome your partnership in supporting their learning, and hope you’ll join us this Wednesday for one of the best days of the year.

Sima Misra, Curriculum & Instruction Coordinator
smisra@theberkeleyschool.org